Box construction



May 2, 1967 s. CONESCU 3,31'?,115

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed May 24, 1965 F|G.1 F317 15 17 I9 19 1 m2 T [iQ51; F9 17 15 3o F9 3o 1 i mm INVENTOR.

/ f Sidney Conescu 13 20B 14 24 20A 12 BY @flMMV ATTORNEY 3,317,115 BOXCONSTRUCTION Sidney Conescu, 188 Beach 147th St., Neponsit, N.Y. FiledMay 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,027 14 (Ilaims. (Cl. 229-63) This inventionrelates in general to a folding box, and more specifically to a foldingbox which is preformed in a particular manner tofacilitate the foldingof the box between an inoperative unfolded position and an operativefolded position.

The folding boxes of the type to which this invention relates are widelyused in commerce for packaging and boxing various kinds of articles.Such folding boxes are generally shipped to a customer, as for example,a retail store or the like, in a blank or unfolded position, therebyenabling the unfolded blanks to be suitably stored in a minimum ofspace. The blanks of such boxes are generally prescored so that theindividual blanks may be readily folded and set up into its box formingposition for receiving the article to be packed therein.

Heretofore, a considerable amount of time and effort was required toindividually fold each such prescored blank to erect the box. Also, suchboxes due to the inherent construction thereof were generally weak inthe corner portions thereof. For this reason, boxes of this type wererelatively difficult to set up and further, when set up they presented agenerally structurally Weak and unsatisfactory box.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedfolding box construction that is relatively simple .in construction,positive in operation, and relatively simple to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved folding boxconstruction that is partially preformed in the unfolded positionthereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved foldingbox construction that is partially preformed in a manner that willexpedite the folding of the partially preformed box between itscollapsed position and its folded or erected, box forming position.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved foldingbox construction constructed with reinforced corner portions withoutincreasing the paper board content thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding boxconstruction with an improved reinforcing corner tab that greatlyenhances the structure of the overall box as well as to enhance theerection thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding box that isconstructed from a single rectangularly shaped blank to minimize waste.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding boxconstruction in which the maximum number of expanded blanks may beformed from a single sheet of standard size stock material.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved foldingbox construction with preformed corner portions whereby expanded blankwith such preformed corners can be readily folded between the expandedunfolded position and the folded box position.

The foregoing objects and other features and advantages are readilyattained by a folding box which is formed from a single rectangularblank of foldable sheet material. The rectangular blank, from which thebox of the instant invention is formed, is provided with a plurality oftransversely extending fold lines for dividing the plane of the blankinto a front panel, a bottom panel, and a back panel connected inend-to-end relationship wherein the front and back panels are hingedlyconnected along the opposed longitudinally extending edges of the bottompanel. Con- United States Patent 3,311,115 Patented May 2, 1967 "icenected to the remote end of the respective front and back panels is atop forming flap. In the assembled position of the box the respectivetop forming flaps are adapted to overlap one another to form the top ofthe box.

The respective top flaps are each provided with top corner forming tabshingedly connected about a fold line coincident with the opposed endportions of the respective top forming flaps.

In accordance with this invention, a continuous side flap is hingedlyconnected about a fold line extending along the opposed marginalportions of the front, bottom, and back panels. continuous side flapsmay be reversely folded onto the plane of the adjacent front, bottom,and back panels along the marginal portion thereof. A slit or die cutpartitions the respective continuous side forming flaps into a pair ofside flap portions, with the corresponding pair of side flap portions inthe erected position of the box being adapted to overlie one another todefine the side wall of the box.

In accordance with this invention, a bottom corner tab portion ishingedly connected to one of the side forming flap portions and the endof the bottom wall panel. Each of the bottom corner forming tabs isprovided with a diagonally extending fold line about which the bottomcorner forming tab is adapted to be reversely folded in the assembled orerected position of the blank.

A tab tail is hingedly connected along a fold line parallel to the foldline about which the corner tab is hingedly connected to the adjacentside forming flap portion. Accordingly, in the partially preformedposition of the blank the tab tail is adapted to overlie the panelportion of the box remote from the panel portion to which the adjacentside panel forming flap is connected. The opposed corner portions of therespective continuous side flap adjacent the corresponding top flap arealso formed with a diagonal extending crease line to define a cornerarea adhesively secured by a suitable bonding agent to the correspondingportion of the adjacent upper corner tabs. The bottom corner tab and theadjacent tail portion are adhesively secured to the bottom panel andadjacent back panel so that in the partially preformed position of thebox, the respective upper and bottom corner portions of the box areadhesively secured to the corresponding adjacent structure of the box.In the partially preformed or expanded position of the box, therespective side flaps and the top flaps are disposed in overlappingposition onto the inside surface of the adjacent portions of the front,bottom, and side panels of the box so that erection of the box may beaccomplished simply by bending the respective front and back panelsdegrees with respect to the bottom wall. Due to the preformed structureof the box, the respective side flaps and top flaps will automaticallyassume their box forming position in the erected position of the box.

Means in the form of locking tabs are provided to maintain the box inits erected position.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a folding boxhaving preformed corner portions constructed and arranged so as toenhance the folding of the box between its unfolded and foldedpositions, and which box when in its folded position is formed withreinforced cornersj Another feature of this invention resides in animproved bottom corner forming flap which is preformed to enhance theease with which the preformed blank may be folded to erected box formingposition.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision that theimproved bottom corner forming flap for a folding box extends beyond theadjacent bottom wall of the box to reinforce the corner defined thereby.

Another feature of this invention is to provide the The arrangement issuch that the' G) bottom corner forming tab with a hingedly connectedtail portion which is adhesively secured in a preformed position of theblank to an adjacent panel portion of the box opposite that to which itsassociated side flap is connected.

Another feature of this invention resides in a folding box formed from asingle rectangular blank of sheet material. Other features andadvantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view ofthe drawings and descriptions in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the expanded blank of sheet material fromwhich the folding box of this invention is formed, the visible surfaceof the blank forming the inside surface of the box when assembled.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary portion of a partially preformed box of theinstant invention illustrated in the unfolded position thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail view of the improved bottom cornerforming tab of the instant invention.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a side elevation view of the partially preformedbox illustrated in an intermediate folded position of the box.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a side end view of the box in the folded positionthereof.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical end view of the box.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified bottom corner tab portion of the instantinvention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein the improved foldingbox 10 of the present invention. As shown, the folding box 10 is formedfrom a single rectangular blank 11 of foldable material such aspaperboard, cardboard, or the like. The blank 10 is provided with a pairof transversely extending fold lines F1 and F2 for partitioning theblank 10 into a pair of opposed panels 12 and 13 interconnected by abottom panel 14. Accordingly, it will be noted that each of the opposedpanels 12 and 13 are hingedly connected to the opposed edge portion ofthe bottom panel 14 along fold lines F1 and F2. For purposes ofdescription, panel 12 will be considered as the .front panel of the box10 and panel 13 will be considered as a back panel of the box 10.

Connected to the remote end portion of the respective front panel andback panels 12 and 13 is a top forming flap 15 and 16 respectively. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the width of the respective top formingflaps 15, 16 are substantially equal. Consequently, in the foldedposition of the box the top forming flaps 15 and 16 will overlie oneanother.

In the illustrated embodiment, top forming flap 16 will overlie theother top forming flap 15 as shown in FIGURE 6.

Blanked out of the underlying top flap 15 is a pair of winged lockingtabs 17 which are adapted to engage with opposed slots 18 formed in theoverlapping top panel 16 whereby the cooperating locking tabs 17 andslots 18 function to maintain the box closed in the erected positionthereof.

In accordance with this invention, each of the respective top formingflaps 16, 15, have hingedly connected to the opposed ends thereof anupper corner forming tab 19. Accordingly, each of the respective uppercorner tabs 19 are hingedly connected about a fold line F3, F4, F5, andF6 respectively.

A continuous side forming flap 20, 21 is hingedly connected to the blank10 along fold lines F7, F8 respectively which are substantiallycoincident with the corresponding opposed side portions of the frontpanel 12, bottom panel 14, and connected back panel 13. Thearrangefolded extend between the fold lines F9, F10 about which whichthe respective continuous side flaps 20, 21 are folded extend betweenthe fold line F9, F10 about which the respective top flaps 15 and 16 areconnected. Accordingly, the width of the respective side forming flaps20, 21 is substantially equal to the width of the upper corner formingtabs 19. Each of the continuous side forming flaps 20, 21 is providedwith a die-cut or slit 22, 23 which partitions the respective flaps 20,21 into a pair of side wall forming flaps 20A, 20B, and 21A, 21Brespectively. As thus seen in FIGURE 1 the slits 22, 23 are illustratedas extending diagonally substantially across the width of the continuousside flap 20, 21. Accordingly, the respective side flap forming portion20A, 20B, and 21A, 21B defined by the respective slits 22, 23 of thecontinuous flap are hingedly connected about respective fold lines F8,F9 to the adjacent'marginal portion of the front panel 12 and back panel13. The arrangement is such that in the erected position of the box, thecorresponding side forming flap portion 20A, 20B and 21A, 21B overlapone another to define a box with a side wall of double thickness andreinforced corner portions.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the respective lower portions of the sideforming flaps 20A, 21B, hingedly connected to the front panel, haveconnected thereto bottom forming tab 24, 25. The adjacent sides of therespective bottom tabs 24, 25 are connected to the adjacent side formingpanel portion 20A, 21A and bottom panel 14 about fold lines F11 and F12.Accordingly, the diagonal slits 22, 23 of the respective side flaps 20,21 are such that they define a tab tail 26, 27 which are hingedlyconnected about respective fold lines F13 to the free end of theadjacent bottom forming tab 24, 25. The bottom forming tab 24, 25 arerespectively provided with a diagonal crease line 26, 27 about which thebottom tabs are reversely folded in the erected position of the box todefine a reinforced corner portion as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In order to preform the respective corner portions of the box to enhancethe erection thereof, a diagonal portion 28 of the opposed ends of thecontinuous. side forming flaps 20, 21 are provided with a layer ofsuitable adhesive so that in the preformed position of the box, adiagonal corner portion 29 of the adjacent upper corner forming tab 19may be suitably secured thereto. Accordingly, a diagonal crease line 30formed in the respective corners of the continuous flaps 20, 21functions to collapse the top forming flaps 15, 16 onto overlyingrelationship with the adjacent panel portions 12, 13 of the box in thecollapsed position of the box.

The bottom forming corner flaps or tabs 24, 25 are preformed byproviding the blank with an adhesive area 31, as indicated in FIGURE 1thereof so that in the partially preformed position of the blank, coateddiagonal portion 24A, 25A of the bottom forming tab 24, 25 respectivelyand the tab tail 26, 27 may be adhesively secured to the bottom panel 14and adjacent back panel 13 respectively as indicated in FIGURE 2. Thus,with the respective bottom corner tabs 24, 25 and the respective uppercorner portion tabs 19 preformed and secured, the top forming flaps 15,16 and the side forming panel portions 20A, 20B; 21A, 21B of thepreformed blank may be reversely folded onto the main blank as shown inFIG- URE 2 in the collapsed position of the box. Therefore, in order toeffect erection of the box, one simply has to grasp the opposed endportions of the box as shown in FIGURE 4 and bring one box panel 12 intooverlying relationship with the other box panel 13. In doing so, thecorresponding side forming flaps 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B tend toautomatically overlap one another, as top forming flap 16 assumesoverlying position relative to the other top forming flap 15 asindicated in FIGURE 6 to define the erection of the box. Thus, inaccordance with this invention and because of the preformed cornerportions of the box in the manner herein described, the erection of theside forming flaps 20A, 20B and 21A, 21B and top forming flaps 15, 16 isautomatically effected as the opposed panel portions 12, 13 of the boxare brought into overlying position from its expanded position of FIGURE2, to its erected position of FIGURE 6.

To secure the box in its erected position, the wing tabs 17 are merelyrequired to have the end portions thereof mserted into the correspondingslots 18 formed in the top panel flap 16. Accordingly, the box isreadily assembled and maintained in an assembled manner in a readilysimple and expeditious manner.

To unfold the box, one merely has to disengage the locking tabs 17 fromthe respective holding slits 18 and move the respective opposed portions12, 13 of the box to its expanded or extended position.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified form of bottom tab construction 44. Inthis form of the invention, the bottom tab 44 is substantially similarto that hereinabove described with the exception that the slit 45forming the continuous side forming flap 46 into two side forming flapportions 46A, 46B is defined by a transversely extendin-g die-cut. Thetail portion 47 of the tab 44 is then defined as a rectangular shapeinstead of the triangular form shown with reference to FIGURES 1 through6. In all other respects the construction and operation of the foldingbox is similar to that hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the box of theinstant invention utilizes a minimum amount of material for the reasonthat the blank from which the box is formed is substantially rectangularin form. Because such blanks can be more efiiciently layed out on asheet of stock material, a minimum of waste is afforded thereby. Also,by preforming the corner portions of the respective box in a mannerherein described, corresponding top forming panels and side formingpanels are reversely folded to overlie the plane of the front, back, andbottom panels so that the blank in the expanded position thereof willoccupy a minimum of space. Also, the preforrning of the corner of thebox as herein described :greatly facilitates and enhances the erectionof the box in addition to increasing the overall strength of the cornerportions.

While the instant invention has been described with reference to aparticular embodiment thereof, it will be readily appreciated andunderstood that variations and modifications of the same may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A box construction comprising:

(a) single blank of foldable sheet material having a plurality oftransversely extending fold lines defining a front panel, a connectedbottom panel, and a back panel,

(b) side flaps connected to the opposite sides of said front and backpanels respectively,

(c) an underlying top panel connected to thefree end of said frontpanel, and (d) an overlying top panel connected to the free end of saidback panel, (e) upper corner flaps connected to the opposed ends of eachof said top panels, (f) a reinforcing bottom corner flap, (g) saidbottom corner flap being disposed between the adjacent ends of thecorresponding side flaps connected to said front and back panels,

(h) said bottom corner fiap being hingedly connected along one endthereof about a fold line to one of said side flaps,

(i) said fold line forming an extension of the fold line about whichsaid front panel is hinged to said bottom anel,

(j) and said other end of said corner fiap being die-cut from the planeof the other corresponding side flap whereby said bottom corner flap isprovided with an extended tail which in the folded position of said boxextends over the surface of said back panel,

(k) and means for adhesively securing said bottom corner flap to saidbottom wall and said back panel.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said corner bottom flapis provided with a diagonal crease line about which said corner flap isreversely folded in the folded position of said box.

3. In a box construction formed of a single blank of foldable sheetmaterial having a front panel, a bottom panel, and a back panelconnected into end-to-end relationship wherein said front panel and backpanel are hingedly connected along spaced transversely extending foldlines coextensive with the opposed longitudinal edges of said bottompanel, the improvement of:

(a) a continuously extending side flap extending longitudinally alongthe respective opposed side portions of said connected front, bottom andback panels whereby the respective side flaps are adapted to bereversely folded along fold line onto said front, bottom, and back panelin an intermediate folded position of said box,

(h) each of said side flaps being slit to define the respectivecontinuous flaps into a pair of side flap portions for said front andback panels in the folded position of said blank,

(c) one of said side flap portions having a connected bottom cornerforming tab adjacent the bottom panel,

(d) said connected bottom corner forming-tab being hingedly connectedalong two edges thereto to said bottom panel and the adjacent side fiapportion respectively,

(e) and a corner tail flap connected to the free end of said cornerforming tab whereby said tail flap in an intermediate folded portion ofsaid box overlies the panel of said box remote from the panel to whichsaid one side flap portion is connected.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said corner tail issubstantially rectangular in shape with one side hingedly connectedalong a fold line substantially coextensive to the free end of saidbottom corner forming tab.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said bottom corner tab isprovided with a diagonal crease line about which said tab is reverselyfolded in the folded portion of said box.

6.-The invention as defined in claim 3 and including means foradhesively bonding a portion of said tab in overlapping relation to thebottom panel.

7. In abox construction formed of a single blank of foldable sheetmaterial having a front panel, a bottom panel, and a back panelconnected into end-to-end relationship wherein said front panel and backpanel are hingedly connected along spaced transversely extending foldlines coextensive with the opposed longitudinal edges of said bottompanel, the improvement of:

(a) a continuously extending side forming flap extending longitudinallyalong the respective opposed side portions of said connected front,bottom and back panels whereby the respective side flaps are adapted tobe reversely folded along fold line onto said front, bottom, and backpanel in an intermediate folded position of said box,

(b) each of said side flaps being slit to divide the respectivecontinuous flaps into a pair of side flap portions connecting said frontand back panels respectively in the folded position of said blank,

(c) one of said side flapportions having a connected bottom cornerforming tab adjacent the bottom panel,

(d) said connected bottom corner forming tab being hingedly connectedalong two adjacent edges to said bottom panel and the adjacent side fiapportion,

(c) said corner forming portion having a diagonally extending creaseline formed therein whereby said corner forming portion is reverselyfolded along said crease line in the folded position of said box,

(f) and a corner tail flap connected to the free end of said cornerforming tab whereby said tail flap in an intermediate folded portion ofsaid box overlies the panel of said box remote from the panel to whichsaid one side flap portion is connected.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 and including means foradhesively bonding a diagonal portion of said corner tab and adjacenttail to said bottom panel and adjacent remote panel respectively.

9. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said corner tail flap issubstantially triangular in shape with the base of said tail flaphingedly connected along a fold line to the free end of said cornerforming flap.

10, In a box construction formed of a single blank of foldable sheetmaterial having a front panel, a bottom panel, and a back panelconnected in end-to-end relationship wherein said front panel and backpanel are hingedly connected along spaced foldlines coextensive with theopposed longitudinal edges of said bottom panel, the improvement of:

(a) side flap connected to each opposed side portion of said front andback panel,

(h) each of said side flaps being hingedly connected to its respectivefront and back panel along a longitudinally extending foldline extendingsubstantially normal to said transversely extending foldlines,

(c) the corresponding side flaps of said front and back panel defining acontinuous side flap extending the length of said blank,

(d) each of said continuously defined side flaps having a slit formedintermediate the length thereof to define a pair of corresponding sideforming flap portions,

(c) said slit being disposed to one side of the bottom panel so that inthe reversely folded position of said side forming flap portion, a partof one of said side portions extending over each of said front and backpanels in the folded position of the blank.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein the extended portion ofsaid one side portion defines a bottom corner forming tab.

12. A box construction comprising:

(a) a blank of foldable sheet material,

(b) said blank having a plurality of transversely extending foldlines todefine a pair of opposed panels and a bottom panel connectedtherebetween,

(c) top flap hingedly connected along a foldline to the respectiveremote ends of each of said opposed panels,

(d) upper corner flaps hingedly connected to the opposed ends of each ofsaid top flaps,

(e) a continuously extending side flap extending along each side of saidblank between said upper corner flaps, said continuous side flaps beinghingedly folded along a longitudinally extending foldline,

(f) each of said continuously forming side fiaps having a slitintermediate the length thereof to define a pair of corresponding sideforming fiap portions in the folded position of the back,

(g) one of said corresponding side flap portions including a bottomcorner tab portion hingedly connected thereto,

(h) said corner tab having one side thereof hingedly connected along afoldline coincident with the adjacent edge of said bottom wall,

(i) and a corner tab tail hingedly connected along a foldline parallelto the fold line about which said corner tab is hingedly connected toits adjacent side forming flap portion,

(j) said corner tab having a diagonally extending crease line thereinabout which said corner tab is reversely folded in the assembledposition of said box,

(k) and means for adhesively securing said tab tail and adjacentdiagonal portion of said corner tab to said adjacent opposed panel andbottom panel in a reversely folded position thereof.

13. A box construction comprising:

(a) a rectangular blank of foldable sheet material,

(b) said blank having a plurality of transversely extending foldlines todefine a front panel, a bottom panel, and a back panel,

(c) said bottom panel being connected between the adjacent ends of saidfront and back panels along transversely extending foldline,

(d) an underlying top flap hingedly connected along a foldline to theremote end of said front panel,

(e) and overlying top flap hingedly connected along a foldline to theremote end of said back panel, (f) upper corner flaps hingedly connectedto the opposed ends of each of said overlying and underlying top flaps,

(g) a continuously extending side flap extending along each side of saidfront, bottom and back panels between said upper corner flaps, saidcontinuous side forming flaps being hingedly folded along alongitudinally extending fold line,

(h) each of said continuously side forming flaps having a slitintermediate the length thereof to form a pair of corresponding sideflap portions to form overlapping sides in the folded position of theback,

(i) one of said corresponding side flap portions including a bottomcorner tab portion hingedly connected thereto,

(j) said corner tab having an adjacent side thereof hingedly connectedalong a foldline coincident with the adjacent edge of said bottom wall,

(k) and a corner tab tail hingedly connected along a foldline parallelto the foldline about which said corner tab is hingedly connected to itsadjacent side forming flap portion,

(1) said corner tab having a diagonally extending crease line thereinabout which said corner tab is reversely folded in the assembledposition of said box,

(m) and means for adhesively securing said tab tail and adjacentdiagonal portion of said corner tab to said back panel and bottom panelrespectively in an intermediate folded position of said box.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 and including means foradhesively securing the upper corner tab to the adjacent ends of saidside forming flap portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,601 9/1932Shapiro 2293l X 2,168,387 8/1939 Bellin 229-33 2,531,507 11/1950Goodyear 22-33 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. R. PESCHOCK,Assistant Examiner.

1. A BOX CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: (A) SINGLE BLANK OF FOLDABLE SHEETMATERIAL HAVING A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FOLD LINESDEFINING A FRONT PANEL, A CONNECTED BOTTOM PANEL, AND A BACK PANEL, (B)SIDE FLAPS CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRONT AND BACK PANELSRESPECTIVELY, (C) AN UNDERLYING TOP PANEL CONNECTED TO THE FREE END OFSAID FRONT PANEL, AND (D) AN OVERLYING TOP PANEL CONNECTED TO THE FREEEND OF SAID BACK PANEL, (E) UPPER CORNER FLAPS CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSEDENDS OF EACH OF SAID TOP PANELS, (F) A REINFORCING BOTTOM CORNER FLAP,(G) SAID BOTTOM CORNER FLAP BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT ENDS OFTHE CORRESPONDING SIDE FLAPS CONNECTED TO SAID FRONT AND BACK PANELS,(H) SAID BOTTOM CORNER FLAP BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE ENDTHEREOF ABOUT A FOLD LINE TO ONE OF SAID SIDE FLAPS, (I) SAID FOLD LINEFORMING AN EXTENSION OF THE FOLD LINE ABOUT WHICH SAID FRONT PANEL ISHINGED TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL, (J) AND SAID OTHER END OF SAID CORNER FLAPBEING DIE-CUT FROM THE PLANE OF THE OTHER CORRESPONDING SIDE FLAPWHEREBY SAID BOTTOM CORNER FLAP IS PROVIDED WITH AN EXTENDED TAIL WHICHIN THE FOLDED POSITION OF SAID BOX EXTENDS OVER THE SURFACE OF SAID BACKPANEL, (K) AND MEANS FOR ADHESIVELY SECURING SAID BOTTOM CORNER FLAP TOSAID BOTTOM WALL AND SAID BACK PANEL.